The character Ajitani Hifumi has very iconic settings in Blue Archive. The winged yellow spiral halo above her head and the white bird plush toy that usually follows her around are core visual features of this character. When planning this shoot, these two points were heavily focused on. A classroom is a setting where this kind of student uniform attire can truly shine; the wooden desks and chairs, along with the sunlight outside the window, add a daily and youthful atmosphere to the overall frame.
For the costume selection this time, a very classic combination was used: a white long-sleeved cardigan sweater layered over a dark blue sailor suit, accented with a yellow bow tie. The lower half features a dark blue pleated skirt paired with opaque black tights. The color scheme focuses on blue, white, and yellow, which is extremely clean and matches the overall art style of Blue Archive. To better fit the character's temperament, the wig is a pale gold color styled into twin tails with small yellow hair rings. The overall makeup is natural and translucent, with eye makeup slightly emphasizing the color of the pupils to get closer to the character's expression in the game. For the material of the black tights, a matte style with slight micro-pressure was chosen, ensuring that the leg lines presented under the natural light at various angles in the classroom would look smoother without disrupting the harmony of the overall frame due to local reflections.
In terms of props, apart from the yellow halo on top which was composited in post-processing or added via supplemental lighting, the white bird plush toy was a core prop that needed to be held in hand throughout the shoot. During photography, this bird plush toy served as an interactive medium, helping me complete many natural and relaxed poses, such as holding it against my chest, placing it on the desk, or holding it in hand to strike cute poses as seen in the photos. The texture and color of this plush toy matched the overall tone of our outfits very well, nicely balancing the monotony brought by large areas of solid colors in the frame.
For the shooting location, we intentionally found a retro-styled classroom. The blackboard, timer, and globe provided very rich classroom elements. The photographer utilized the warm-toned sunlight slanting through the window in the afternoon to create a very soft side-backlight environment. This kind of lighting happened to outline the golden-yellow contour along the edges of the hair while making the textures and patterns of the sailor suit and pleated skirt much more distinct. Sitting on the desk was actually a bold yet natural composition; postures like crossing or extending the legs could wonderfully showcase the lines of the tights beneath the skirt, while pairing it with naturally placed hands prevented the overall frame from looking stiff.
Throughout the entire set of photos, we experimented with different camera positions and angles. There were slightly overhead shots that utilized the lines of the desks to guide the visual focus, as well as eye-level angles that gave the subject a sense of direct interaction with the camera. Facing different shooting angles required constant adjustment of shoulder tension and the center of gravity of the sitting posture to present a sense of relaxation rather than a rigid pose in front of the lens. Especially in the process of conveying the daily feel and natural vitality of this student uniform, overly deliberate actions would only ruin the original atmosphere. Whether resting the chin on the hand, reaching out, or gently grasping the collar, hand movements were kept as close as possible to that slightly green yet striving-to-be-positive character personality. When adopting the pose of sitting across the desk, the placement of the legs was not only a visual extension but also a compositional balance. The black tights in the frame formed a great contrast with the bright wooden desktop, further enhancing the three-dimensional feel of the image.
Of course, as the main subject of the shoot, turning flat photography into a three-dimensional character presentation is also something to ponder. While props and costumes can provide outer enhancements, grasping the demeanor is the key to breathing life into the character. While staring at the camera, I tried smiling and slightly calm expressions to match the emotional states of various scenarios. The lighting transition in the large classroom environment, coupled with the retro texture of the wooden furniture, resulted in final photos carrying a filtering atmosphere resembling a school Japanese drama.
Although it was a relatively simple school uniform outfit, no effort was spared in polishing the details. Whether it was the folding method of the collar, the natural degree of the skirt's pleats, or making sure the tights didn't stretch or tear due to overly large movements during shooting, these were all minor details that required constant attention. Presenting the character's unique gentleness, cuteness, and a bit of clumsiness is far more important than simply piling up photography techniques.
Although the shooting process was somewhat exhausting, requiring continuous adjustments of movements and light-shadow to achieve the ideal effect, the final photos were still satisfying. The wooden elements, globe, and clock in the venue blended into the background just right, neither stealing the show nor failing to support the needed student atmosphere. Hopefully, through this set of photos, Hifumi's gentle and lively vibe can be successfully conveyed.